While most everyone who was left on the station was having celebratory reunions now that their loved ones had returned, Doctor Gaven Ore was held up in the station's surgery personally doing his level best to make sure that Julian Bashir didn't die.

Along with his extensive injuries, Julian had been found in such an advanced state of dehydration that it was a wonder he hadn't expired just from that. He'd also lost a significant amount of blood which should have had a similar kind of effect given how long he had been laying in the carpet shop. While everyone was happy to chalk up Julian's medical status as a run of the mill miracle, Gaven knew better. He knew both by personal experience and by the subtle signs sprinkled throughout Julian's medical history that his ability to survive wasn't a miracle at all. Gaven was almost sure that Julian was alive because he was genetically augmented. Whether his advantages included control over his bodily systems, or he was merely more robust because of his augmentation, was hard to say. Nevertheless, Gaven was convinced of the fact by now and was not particularly bothered by it.

For Gaven, genetic augmentation was practically expected on Oum. The science was the entire reason why his culture had survived and had ultimately been able to thrive under the harsh conditions of constant poly radiation exposure. Gaven was aware that the Federation of Planets regarded genetic augmentation in a somewhat harsher light and though he didn't know the exact particulars of the political and cultural attitudes and concerns involved, Gaven had enough good sense not to confront Julian about it or reveal that he harbored any suspicions whatsoever about his genetic status. Assuming it was true, there was nothing for Gaven to gain by exposing the other doctor. Julian seemed so insistent on carrying on with his elaborate charade that Gaven felt it best to allow him to do so. It privately saddened him to suspect that Julian had spent possibly his entire existence holding back who he was and what he was really capable of. In his mind, it was both a waste and a pity. Humans were a strange race; Gaven had begun to think.

Besides needing a massive blood transfusion and fluids, the to the bone gash across Julian's skull needed to be carefully cleaned, closed, and watched for infection. Though there hadn't been a skull fracture, it was unclear if Julian had suffered additional brain damage. One of Julian's lungs had also collapsed and had required the temporary installment of a chest tube and ventilator. There was so much swelling across his damaged rib cage that it was amazing that Julian could breathe even with assistance. For now, Julian was in a medically induced coma. Further brain trauma would need to be assessed after he woke up and started breathing on his own again.

Gaven operated using a combination of astute mechanical skill and his empathic instincts. His surgical work was utterly precise and incredibly beautiful to behold. Above all else, Gaven was an absolute professional. He didn't dare let his feelings trespass over what he was trying to do. Julian's wellbeing was too important to him. Not to forget, there were quite enough concerned people who were anxiously waiting for Gaven to finish his work so that he could update them. Certainly, Gaven felt they deserved his absolute best.

Several hours after Julian had first been moved into surgery, a tired Gaven emerged from the operating suite to meet Julian's many friends. The most vocal of whom was Miles O'Brien.

"Well, Doctor? How is he? When can we see him?" Miles asked impatiently.

"I managed to stabilize him. He's still on a ventilator, but that's just a precaution until the swelling goes down in his chest and I know for sure there won't be any further risk of incident or infection. The next several days are critical, and for now, he's been placed in a medically induced coma for his safety. Assuming all goes well, it's possible he will make a full recovery." Gaven informed them.

"It's only possible? So that means you're not sure." Miles demanded.

"As I said, the next several days will be critical. I will be monitoring the situation, but there are simply some things brain scans won't tell us. I ask that for your own sake and Julian's, that you all be patient. I'll be able to make a complete assessment when he wakes up." Gaven reassured them.

"Damn those changeling bastards!" Miles yelled.

"Calm yourself, Chief. We are all alarmed and worried." Sisko said gravely. "What do you think, Doctor? How far along are we on our detection strategies?"

Gaven sighed.

As expected, it always came back to the same question.

How to stop the Dominion.

Righteous as that question was, Gaven, wondered how much longer things would go on before the problem became, how do we destroy the Dominion? Gaven knew some had already quietly begun to make the leap. What if they all made that leap eventually? Given what he'd personally witnessed, it wouldn't be altogether surprising. But it would be disappointing, and it would be something Gaven couldn't comply with.

Nevertheless, he was willing to help the Federation of Planets protect themselves from invasion because he believed in their right as beings to exist without molestation. As far as Gaven was concerned, the Changelings had become the very thing they feared most. Oh, how he bled over that knowledge given his people's unique history with the Changeling species.

"Doctor Bashir and I have developed our inoculation course far enough to begin phase one of our testing. I can start taking volunteers after the first clinical trials prove successful. The more diverse in species, the better." Gaven confirmed. "But with all due respect to the station's situation, I would like to make Dr. Bashir's health and wellness my main priority for now. At least until he's conscious. I know what he means to all of you, and furthermore, he is leading the inoculation project as far as all of you and the Federation are concerned. With respect to that, I don't want to proceed too far without him if I don't have to. I'm sure you understand me, Captain."

"Indeed, let's hope our resident CMO recovers quickly." Sisko remarked.

There was a subtle warning in his tone that hinted, Sisko wouldn't pressure Gaven if he could avoid it but that such consideration had an expiration date under the circumstances. It was a private reminder to Gaven about what his position on the station was. He was there because the Federation of Planets required his skills and knowledge. While they were attempting to be patient and accommodating to him about appeasing their needs, it was only a matter of time before desperate necessity forced the Federation to put the squeeze on Gaven, although he owed them nothing and had no obligation whatsoever to aid them given who and what he really was. Then again during times of war, what was fair and right tended to become inconsequential. Almost everyone Gaven had met on the station came from alien races who had broken their codes of morality and ethics (if they had any, to begin with) when the going got rough enough. Humans, for example, seemed to have a long history of exploitation when it came down to matters of individual or collective survival. As high minded as the Federation's ideas had become, this was deep space they were floating about in. This was the edge of the Frontier. This was a war.

A battle over the issue of agency vs. Control. Both variations of the same driving agenda.

Collective survival.

For the next week, Gaven stayed true to his word and practically moved into the infirmary full time. With so many allied ships in the area, most of the wounded had returned to their respective people, and the station was still largely deserted and on lockdown while the station's staff tried to regroup and collaborate with Bajor and their other allies.

This allowed for Gaven to focus almost all his medical and personal attention on the unconscious Julian whom he hardly left alone.

Periodically, Julian's many friends came to see him, and it was only during such visits that Gaven seemed to break his constant vigil and leave the infirmary for short periods. After a while, some of them started to come around just so that Gaven would take some personal time for himself.

"Do you think Julian's going to be alright, Elim?" Ziyal asked in her childlike way that was all bald honesty and troubled innocence.

"Of that, I have no doubt, my dear. I have never known our Doctor Bashir to back down from a worthy challenge, and I happen to have it on good authority that he is under the care of a certifiable miracle worker where matters of one's health are concerned. Have no fear." Garak reassured her.

It was, of course, a lie on Garak's part. At least so far as his confidence of Julian's fortitude was concerned. In truth Garak, like all of Julian's closest friends, was wracked with deep seeded worry that would not be decreased until Julian was fully conscious and back to his old habits. Furthermore, he knew almost nothing about the mysterious Doctor Ore outside of the information that came Garak's way via the second-hand chatter on the promenade and in Quark's regarding his many strange attributes and various contributions to the station as an obscure Federation medical specialist that until recently no one had ever heard of.

Being a former spy and a general busybody who liked to have a healthy awareness of all who entered his sphere, Garak had meant to make Gaven's acquaintance ever since the fight on the promenade. It was at that time that Garak had first met the man and sensed in the good Doctor a kind of pent-up ferocity that was kept under exquisitely tight control. Garak detested being indebted to anyone, especially in matters of life or death, but in this particular case, he minded the business with extra acute interest. Despite not knowing the Doctor, he had sensed some of Gaven's darker capabilities and understood that had his fight with Dukat escalated to attempted murder, Gaven would have had no qualms about subduing the unsuspecting Dukat and making good on his promise to preserve Garak's life. The thought almost made Garak regret narrowly escaping Dukat's wrath if only because it would have been delightful to hear of Dukat's embarrassment at being taken apart by a mere human man later. Furthermore, it would have been an additional treat to rub salt in Dukat's wounded pride by surviving his murderous efforts.

If Gaven succeeded in saving Julian Bashir's life, Garak's sense of debt to the good Doctor would be double fold and poetically complete.

The couple had arrived close to dinner time, intending to dine together at Quark's after they finished paying their respects to Julian. Upon departing from his bedside, they lingered awhile at a respectable distance as they watched the strange doctor whom neither was well acquainted with, return from wherever he had gone and attended to their friend. Despite his comatose state, Gaven could often be found keeping vigil at Julian's bedside quietly talking at length with the other doctor as if he were awake. Sometimes he poured over one of Julian's more troublesome unresolved medical cases or read aloud one of Julian's favorite holo-novels that Miles had recommended to him.

Except when visitors were present, Gaven seemed to always be at Julian's side. Sometimes, when they were utterly alone, Gaven would even break his usually stoic silence about his history and solemnly relate memories of his life while on Oum. Though he steered clear of any subjects relating to the details of his final months and rarely related stories of his bondmate outside of his service to his bondmate's house and his work in the capital where he was a scholar and specialist.

"He's very attentive. Don't you think?" Ziyal observed.

"Why yes, I do believe he is. Perhaps it is best we do not disturb them further and move on with our dinner plans." Garak suggested more for his own reasons than for anyone else's.

The more he watched the Doctor painstakingly interact with Julian, the more curious he became. It was not a great secret that the doctors tended not to associate with each other much on a personal level. It was a point that was curious to Garak considering that Julian usually avoided talking about the guest doctor as much as possible whenever Garak tried to inquire about their scientific progress. Various rumors were being whispered more and more around the station regarding Gaven. Most of it was speculation about who he was and how he had come to serve on the station as a civilian doctor and not as a Starfleet Medical Officer. It didn't take a spy as astute as Garak to realize some intrigue was going on. Still, Doctor Ore was very well liked, and now Garak could see why.

"I don't think I'm going to have time to come back after dinner, but you should Elim. I'm sure Julian would appreciate it, and I know how worried you are for him. Plus, you could bring Dr. Ore some dinner on your way back. I hear he's hardly left the infirmary since Julian was put under." Ziyal encouraged him compassionately.

"An inspired Idea, my dear. I shall do just that. Come. Let's not delay any longer. As much as I worry for our beloved CMO, I am equally grateful for our time together especially in light of recent events." With his eyes lingering still on Gaven's back, Garak extended his arm and eventually led them away.

At the very last moment, much to Garak's satisfaction, Gaven subtly gave in to the feeling he was being watched and slowly glanced behind him. For the briefest of seconds, he caught Garak boldly staring at him. This time right into his eyes, and to Garak's secret delight, Gaven subtly nodded to him. Gaven's gaze was full of intelligence and steel. In return, Garak only smiled thinly and with a bit of flare broke their eye contact immediately turning away and striking up a lively conversation with Ziyal as he swiftly led them on to Quarks.

Gaven made no move to catch them; under the circumstances, he did not doubt that Garak would be back.

"Rom, do you have that audio script ready yet?" Quark demanded impatiently.

Business had been slow allowing for the Ferengi to focus on other matters besides the bar.

Quark's primary interest as of late was, of course, finding out if his suspicions were correct about Doctor Gaven Ore. If it was true that he was an alien from an obscure culture somewhere, Quark thought it might be possible to corner the market on information and possibly open some unique and highly lucrative profit streams. If his planet were specifically exotic and or hard to access, the trade possibilities alone or rather the smuggling possibilities could be worth a fortune. Not to mention that the doctor's talents were limited to the station for now, but there was no telling who would come calling if it turned out the Federation was keeping an alien prodigy under their thumbs.

"Yeah. I got it right here. But, huh, maybe...Maybe we shouldn't listen to it. Dr. Ore seems like a nice person, and I just think..." Rom muttered with his classic uncertainty.

"Rom, since when have I ever encouraged you to think about anything? Who's the business mind around here? Hm? I am. Now if it turns out there's nothing useful on there, I'll personally burn up the recording, and we'll pretend we never executed this experiment. But considering that there COULD be something useful on there, we can't very well just ignore the ninth rule of acquisition." Quark reasoned.

"Opportunity plus instinct equals profit." They both said in unison.

Before listening to the recorded transmission, they'd gotten from the bug in Gaven's quarters, Quark had assembled a short list of planets (there weren't many) that were known to contain life, and that circled a poly radiated sun. The list was ordered from the most well-known to the most obscure and only included five options. While many of them would be noteworthy, Quark had his hopes set for one of the more obscure options.

As Quark took over the task of listening to the recorded transmission, he at first was a little taken back by the intimacy his keen ears were picking up on between the subjects involved. Perhaps something was going on between the Vulcan and the good doctor after all. It was an unusual mental image but not completely surprising to Quark who had seen plenty of interesting relationship combinations come through his bar over the years.

Briefly distracted by the thought, Quark almost missed the first mentioning of the planet Oum as Cheval and Gaven spoke about their respective meditation practices.

But when the men began to discuss an apparent freighter attack, they'd survived together, Quark caught the mentioning of the planet Oum and that Gaven had been in stasis when the Breen had attacked them. The information that followed was not particularly detailed, but it bespoke of great tragedy and personal pain. Among other things, it confirmed that Gaven was indeed not human and that his presence on Deep Space Nine was not an accident. It seemed as if the Federation had recruited or compelled the doctor to assist them in their efforts against the Dominion and that Gaven felt he had no choice but to comply. Like Cheval, Quark shared in the perspective that none of it sounded very fair or particularly right. But then again, they were living in confusing and desperate times.

"So, he's an Oum. I gotta admit he's caught me by surprise there." Quark remarked.

"What are we going to do about it, brother? It sounds like the Federation is trying to keep his identity a big secret." Rom observed.

"Nothing for now." Quark muttered slyly. "These sorts of things tend to become public knowledge eventually, and then we might be in for an interesting ride. I have to hand it to our good doctor; he's taking it all in stride. But everyone's got their breaking point. I'd be interested to see him hit his. With any luck he may end up being more right about his value then he knows. As for us, we should observe Rule of Acquisition two hundred eight. Doctor Ore stirs up a hell of a lot of questions, and I'm willing to lay down odds that the answers are more dangerous to know then the questions are to ask."

Julian Bashir remained in his medically induced coma for ten days. It was just long enough for his substantial injuries to heal enough to bring him out of immediate danger. When it was time to bring him out of it, Gaven notified the Captain and requested his presence. It was agreed between them that they would hold off on inviting anyone else until Julian could decide for himself who he wanted to see.

"Well, doctor what do you think?" Sisko asked upon surveying Julian in the isolation room.

"Physically he should recover without further complication. His brain scans show a healthy amount of activity, but I want to stress that there may be issues we won't be able to see until he wakes up and begins his mental and emotional recovery. It's unclear what he will and won't remember about the attack. I have reason to believe the attack on Dr. Bashir was specifically vicious. The changeling that attacked him intentionally hurt him in ways that would prolong suffering. When he comes to, he may have a violent reaction to waking up. He also may or may not be able to communicate effectively." Gaven neglected to tell the Captain that Julian Bashir should have died from his injuries before they found him.

"Thank you, Doctor. I understand. Please proceed and let me know how I may be of additional help." Sisko agreed.

Gaven nodded and began the process of reversing the coma. In most cases, it could take hours for a patient to come out of a medically induced coma, and the process was more gradual as the body came back online at its own pace. Again, Gaven had refrained from mentioning that Julian's brain scans had been abnormally active the entire time he was under. Given that Julian was an Augment, this did not surprise him and was the reason Gaven had gone above and beyond to engage Julian as much as possible while he was unconscious. Gaven suspected that Julian would come out of his coma almost immediately and that the experience of waking up would prove dramatic. As Gaven administered the final part of the process, he gripped Julian firmly at the wrist so that he could open a biological link with him and monitor his biological response. Thanks to this Gaven knew the exact second Julian became consciously aware and was able to anticipate his adrenaline filled reaction.

As Julian shot up on the med bay bed with his eyes wide open and blazing, Gaven caught him across the chest and firmly demanded that he remain calm and try to breathe.

"Julian, you're all right. You need to stay calm, or I'll have to sedate you. Don't try to speak. You're still injured, and the Captain and I don't want you to hurt yourself." Gaven didn't let go of him, and after a tense thirty seconds, Julian did allow Gaven to ease him back down on the medi-bed as he tried to curb his mania turning his face away from the Captain and squeezing his eyes shut without saying anything.

"I want you to know, Doctor, that the changeling threat has been neutralized. The changeling that attacked you is dead, and for now, the station is safe. On behalf of your many friends and colleagues, we want you to focus on getting well, and we're all grateful that you're still with us." The Captain reassured him.

"Julian, I know you're afraid right now, but it's over. I promise." Gaven rested his free hand across Julian's forehead and leaned down, his other hand still firmly covering Julian's wrist as he silently urged him to try and relax.

"Do you want something for the pain?" He asked in a low firm tone.

Thanks to the biological link that was still fully engaged, Gaven could feel what Julian biologically felt as sensory awareness of the part of him still actively healing came forward.

At this question, Julian opened his eyes, and though they were filled with tears, he managed to look Gaven in the face and nod slightly.

"Fine. I'll take care of it. I'm going to speak to the Captain now. Can you hold out for a minute or do you want me to administer something right away?" Gaven wanted to give Julian the option of dealing with his suffering in privacy rather than in front of the Captain.

His slight head movements told Gaven he wanted to wait until the Captain was gone.

"I hear you. I'll take care of it." Gaven promised.

Reluctantly, Gaven broke the link which served to intensify Julian's discomfort once he wasn't sharing the burden of his biological impulses with Gaven.

"Captain, If I could speak to you over here." Gaven stood and adjusted his plain uniform encouraging the Captain to step just outside the room with him.

"He's in pain and needs to sleep. I want to give him a few more days to rest and come back into himself, and I want to run some cognitive tests to make sure his language and thought centers are fully intact. I will leave it up to you to alert his family and friends to his condition, but for now, I want to avoid a lot of guests until Julian asks to see people." Gaven said.

"Of course. Thank you, Doctor. Was there anything else you wanted to say?" Sisko asked.

"Yes. As you might imagine it could take several weeks for Doctor Bashir to be service ready again. Possibly longer if his mental state proves hard to cope with, I think it might be wise to bring in a temporary Starfleet doctor to take on his workload. I'm certainly capable of carrying on as an assistant doctor here but you and I both know why that might prove complicated later. I just...This charade is becoming more complex than I feel comfortable with. While my medical skill level has been proven comparable to what is expected of a Starfleet doctor, I just think it might be best to limit my exposure here. The people of Deep Space Nine may not appreciate being lied to all this time if the truth ever becomes known." Gaven admitted.

"I understand your feelings, Doctor. Starfleet has been notified of the situation and is taking steps, but the conflict at hand is making it difficult to pull needed staff from other Starships. Until we can get some more help here, you may prove to be the best option we have. I want you to know that my officers appreciate what you've done for us and the sacrifice you're making for everyone involved. You're a good man if I do say so off the record. When you have time would you stop by my office? I would like to discuss some things with you." Sisko asked.

"Of course, Captain. Once Julian is stable and resting, I'll make an appearance. Thank you for your kind words. I do appreciate them." Gaven agreed stoically. "Now if you'll excuse me. I must attend to my patient."

Sending the Captain on his way, Gaven scoffed under his breath at his situation and returned to Julian side. Though he was trying to keep still, Julian was thrashing slightly and trying to hold back his discomfort.

"I'm sorry, Julian. I shouldn't have delayed. You'll feel better in a minute. Hold on." Gaven moved to set up a hypo-spray of pain relief that he intended to mix with a sedative but was delayed when Julian tried to grip at his arm.

"D-don't sed-ate me." He murmured in a voice hoarse and broken from lack of use.

"Fine. But you need pain relief. I can't guarantee it won't knock you out once it's administered." Gaven warned him quietly and calmly.

"St-st-." He tried to plead.

Gaven sighed and pulled up a stool settling down beside him after dosing him with the hypo-spray.

"I won't leave you. Just try to relax for a while and conserve your strength. I'm going to keep you well and safe. You have my word." Gaven promised.